Maritime workers to begin 7-day strike in shipping sector

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) led by  its President -General, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju,  has directed that the initial suspended strike action be resuscitated by Monday, October 30, 2023.

In a statement signed by Head of Media, MWUN, Comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna, the Union said the directive wascoming on the heels of the failure of the shipping employers representative to resume negotiation of the minimum standard condition of service (NJIC) for the shipping sector.

“It would be recalled that the former Minister of Transportation’s intervention necessitated the suspension of the indefinite strike action billed for Monday, June 5, 2023.

“The Minister also constituted a technical  committee comprising the Union and Shipping Employers to harmonise its demands after three meetings held ealier could not resolve the protracted Minimum Standard Condition of Service (NJIC) issue with the Union.

“It’s worthy to note also that when truce was almost in sight, the representatives of the Shipping Employers at the negotiation table began to develop lackadaisical attitude towards the entire exercise, which gave them away as lacking the mandate to take decisions which subsequently led to the collapse of the negotiation,” the statement read.

It added that flowing from the above, “We as a Union have reiterated that the Shipping Branch of the Union will commence the suspended indefinite action throughout the nation’s port formations after the expiration of the renewed seven-day ultimatum issued”.

“The other three branches of the Union, namely: Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dockworkers, and the Seafarers will in solidarity join their colleagues in the strike action.”